Now, I’m not sure what 2013 will bring; if the drought continues, it could be a dangerous combination for U.S. beef producers, who are currently maintaining the smallest beef herd since the 1950s. Maintaining or increasing the size of the U.S. herd could prove difficult as pasture and hay supplies run short.

Despite this worry, I certainly don’t want to end 2012 on a negative note. So, to round out the year, I thought I would give away one more prize -- three copies of a western art print entitled, “The Overseers,” by Amarillo, TX-based artist, Jack Sorenson. This is a limited-edition, numbered print, signed by the artist and retails for $100.

To enter, simply leave a caption for the photo below in the comments section. The deadline to enter is noon on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. Our winner will be announced on Jan. 3, and two additional copies of the print will go to entrants drawn at random. Good luck!

By the way, be sure to participate in our weekly reader poll at beefmagazine.com. This week's poll asks the question: "Are you optimistic about 2013?" The choices are:

Yes. I’m feeling optimistic.

No. I expect it to be worse for me.

2013 will be a lot like 2012.

I have no idea.

And be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section after voting.